The disruption of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz has led to a decline in fertilizer exports.

According to a report by the International Trade Centre (ITC), prepared in conjunction with the WTO and UNCTAD, the unstable situation in the region has severely limited the export opportunities of countries dependent on the Strait of Hormuz. This list includes Bahrain, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The decline in supply volumes is driven by rising insurance and logistics costs, as well as navigation safety concerns.

Data from April 2026 show a significant decline in export volumes across 12 major commodity groups, including fertilizer and energy resources. The total shipment volume from these countries fell by 54% compared to April 2025. The fertilizer sector was hit hardest: exports of urea decreased by 83%, and ammonia by 75%. In addition, supply volumes of methanol dropped by 80%.

The authors of the study note that the reduction in supplies has affected a wide range of production chains. Despite attempts by importing countries to pivot toward alternative suppliers, they have only managed to fully offset the deficit for a limited number of items, including ammonia and propylene polymers. According to ITC estimates, many markets were forced during this period to rely on strategic reserves, increase domestic production, or simply reduce resource consumption, as the substitution of volumes lost from the Strait of Hormuz region has not yet been achieved.